Pretty good, eh? I'm not sure if it's encouraging or discouraging, to be honest... Probably a little of both? It's a little discouraging to know that there's a pretty good chance I won't make a giant impact on the overall knowledge of the human race. But at the same time, it will be just as big for anyone else looking at it from my perspective - in my field and specialty. And if the Mouse and the Lion (you know... the one who pulled the thorn from his paw) taught us anything, it's that something very small can actually have a huge impact on the chain of events that follow. So that's a little encouraging, after all! Not to mention, it's nice to know that no matter what, I can't let my Ph.D. be my entire world - there is so much more beyond that, too.

Um... I mean... NO WAY Dr. Advisors and Funding Agencies!!! RESEARCH IS LIFE!!!!!